After winning the NJSIAA Group 1 championship last season behind a sensational senior class that included two First Team All-State players, Middlesex was understandably expected to take a step or two back this spring.

Through two weeks though, the Blue Jays have been one of the state's pleasant surprises, still unbeaten after a come-from-behind 6-5 triumph over New Providence yesterday at the Roselle Park Dad's Club Invitational.

"We've been able to find a way to win," coach Mike O'Donnell said. "We've been able to make a play when we've needed it."

Middlesex (7-0) made two such plays late to finally wrest control of what was an entertaining see-saw of a contest. The game saw four lead changes before New Providence (4-3) tied it at five in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double by Dean Bogdanovic.

In the home half of the sixth, Middlesex got a go-ahead two-out RBI single from Dom Lampasona to score Brandon Bollin and reclaim the lead. Then in the seventh, shortstop Rob Passalacqua, who had singled in the sixth to put Bollin in scoring position, snuffed out a budding New Providence rally before it caused any damage.

After Jeff Doran doubled to open the inning, Passalacqua fielded a hard-hit grounder in the hole moments later and threw to third, getting the lead out. Reliever Stewart Lester then struck out the next two batters to end the game and wrap up the save.

"He's smart. He's a good player," McDonnell said. "Those kind of plays, they are the difference."

Middlesex took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI sacrifice fly by Passalacqua, but New Providence got two in the top of the fourth and two more in the fifth after Middlesex had briefly regained control on a two-run inside-the-park home run by Emilio Gonzalez-De Olio before tying the game in the sixth to set the stage for Middlesex at the end.

"It feels great," Gonzalez-De Olio said. "People had doubts. It just feels good to know we've shown people that we can still (be successful). We'll do whatever we can to win games."

Lampasona got the victory in relief, allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of work. He was also 2-for-4 at the plate. Tristan O'Connor started for Middlesex and threw well in taking the no-decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits over four innings with two strikeouts and two walks. He also had a double at the plate.

Alan Payne was 3-for-4 for New Providence in the loss with an RBI and a run. Bogdanovic was 2-for-3. Alex Shema and Bryan Sherman also had an RBI each. Sherman took the loss, allowing a run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief with a strikeout and a walk. Bogdanovic started the game and went 4 1/3, allowing five runs in six hits with two walks and a strikeout.